Tamra Worstell

“Four score and seven years ago our father brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to proposition that all men are created equal...” 150 years ago in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 19, 1983 President Abraham Lincoln spoke these famous 272 words. You as a person might expect something more incredibly complex from the president, but he gave us 272 words of wisdom. That today we still remember and sight in honor of the fallen soldiers that fought in the bloodiest battle. The speech only lasted for about two or three minutes long, people wonder why we take it into such importance. The reason why is because not that it’s only 272 words but the fact in those words describes what happened at Gettysburg. How we dedicate, and how we care so much about living and the dead soldiers that fought for our freedom here in America.
The speech wasn’t written out of loss it was written out of devotion for our nation. Abraham Lincoln wrote “...that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion…” We show strength by showing devotion in our nation, by protecting our nation from any types of threats. As Lincoln wrote again, “...But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow – this ground…” We can never truly forget what happened in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 19, 1983. We honor the dead that have fallen in the battle by re-sighting these famous 272 words in remembrance for a new birth of freedom.
Tamra Worstell
Fisher Jr/Sr High School
Fisher, IL